Combination lint filter and additive dispenser for automatic washer

ABSTRACT

A combination lint filter and additive-dispenser is provided for an automatic washing machine and includes a receptacle having a plurality of chambers for receiving additives or treating agents. A lint filter in the form of a maze of vertical pins protruding from the base of the receptacle is provided with a stripping plate for the manual cleaning of the pins. The filter-dispenser is provided with suitable connections to the recirculating water supply such that as the water enters the respective chambers, it flows through the maze of pins whereupon lint is trapped by these pins before the water re-enters the washing chamber of the machine. This same recirculating water flow also serves to flush out the additive or treating agent from the dispenser into the washing chamber.

United States Patent Worst July 29, 1975 15 1 COMBINATION LINT FILTERAND 3.455,456 7/1969 Wolters 68/18 F ADDITIVE DISPENSER FOR AUTOMATIC3,757,543 9/1973 Braga 68/17 R WASHER Appl. No: 384,014

[52} US. Cl... 68/17 R; 68/18 F; 134/93; 134/104 [51] Int. Cl. D06F39/02; D06F 39/10 [58] Field of Search 68/17 R, 18 F; 134/98, 134/104;210/167, 407, 408, 413, 222/189 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 2,555,725 6/1951 Archbold 210/407 X 3.088.305 5/1963 Ohmann68/17 R 3.219.192 11/1965 Trembath ct al. 210/167 X 3.353.681 11/1967Silva 210/413 X Primary ExaminerEdward L. Roberts Assistant ExaminerC.K. Moore [57] ABSTRACT A combination lint filter and additive-dispenseris provided for an automatic washing machine and includes a receptaclehaving a plurality of chambers for receiving additives or treatingagents. A lint filter in the form of a maze of vertical pins protrudingfrom the base of the receptacle is provided with a stripping plate forthe manual cleaning of the pins. The filterdispenser is provided withsuitable connections to the recirculating water supply such that as thewater enters the respective chambers, it flows through the maze of pinswhereupon lint is trapped by these pins before the water re-enters thewashing chamber of the machine. This same recirculating water flow alsoserves to flush out the additive or treating agent from the dispenserinto the washing chamber.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUL 2 9 I975 SHEET F'IG.\

COMBINATION LINT FILTER AND ADDITIVE DISPENSER FOR AUTOMATIC WASHERBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to anautomatic clothes washing machine. and in particular, to a combinationlint-filter. additive-dispenser in an automatic washing machine.

It is desirable, in an automatic washing machine. to provide means forthe removal of lint from the liquid being recirculated within themachine. It is also desirable, with the provision in an automatic washerof a soak cycle or a first wash followed by a second wash cycle, to havea dispenser system which is capable of releasing additives or treatingagents into the washing machine at prescribed times in the operation ofthese machines. The prior art teaches the use of pin type filteringelements placed in the recirculation flow of an automatic washingmachine. Cleaning of such filtering elements has been accomplished bythe use of perforated plates, the removal of the entire filter, and bybackflushing a discharge flow through the filtering element. There hasbeen, however, no provision of a suitable additive-dispensing device,operative after the starting of the cycle, which combines the functionof filtering and removing lint from the recirculating flow of liquid inthe washing machine.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide acombination, lint-filter, additive-dispenser for an automatic washingmachine and which provides means for easily cleaning and removing theentrapped lint from the filter element.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, acombination filter and additive-dispenser is provided for a washingmachine of the type having a container for receiving items to be washedand further having means for recirculating liquid therein. lncluded is areceptacle having at least one chamber and arranged for receiving anadditive to be introduced into the container and includes waterdiversion means including a conduit communicating the receptacle withthe recirculation means and operable at predetermined times for causingrecirculating liquid to flow into the receptacle for effecting transferof the additive into the container. Filtration means is providedarranged in the receptacle for removing foreign material from the flowof recirculating liquid before the liquid re-enters the container andmechanical means is provided for manually cleaning the filtration means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a front elevational view.with portions broken away, of an automatic washing machine of thevertical axis type incorporating a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention showing the relationship thereof with the washing machine;

FIG. 3 is a view taken generally along the lines 33 of FIG. I andenlarged to better show details;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines 4-4 ofFIG. 3 to better reveal the association of the filter-dispenser of thepresent invention with its surroundings in the automatic washingmachine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, there isshown a vertical agitator type automatic clothes washing machine 10 ofthe type having a container for receiving items to be washed andincluding outer tub 12, an imperforate structure, and suitably mountedtherein a basket 14 for receiving soiled clothes. Basket 14 has its sideand bottom walls provided with perforations. Tub 12 then serves as aliquid receptacle. the basket 14 and tub 12 together serving in effectas a container means for the clothes and liquid in which they are to bewashed and rinsed.

The tub 12 is rigidly mounted with an appearance cabinet 16, whichincludes a cover 18 hingedly mounted upon a removable top portion 20 ofthe cabinet. When cover 18 is lifted, it provides access through anopening 22 to basket 14. The rigid mounting of tub 7 12 within cabinet16 may be effected by any suitable means.

Mounted on the cabinet top 20 is a control panel 24 including sequencecontrol means such as a cycle controlling timer device 28 which servesto conduct the washing machine 10 through various washing cycles whichmay be selected by the operator.

At the center of basket 14, there is positioned a vertical axis agitator30 which includes a plurality of curved, water circulating vanes (notshown) joined at their lower ends by an outwardly flared skirt (also notshown). Both the clothes basket 14 and the agitator 30 are rotatablymounted. Rotational drive is translated to basket 14 and agitator 30through a transmission 32 driven by an electric motor 34 connectedthereto by suitable means. Details of constructional operation of suchan automatic washing machine are fully disclosed in US. Pat. No.3,248,912 John Bochan. assigned to the same assignee as the presentinvention.

In addition to operating transmission 32, motol" 34 also provides adirect drive through a flexible coupling 36 to liquid recirculationmeans such as the pump structure generally indicated at 40. Pump 40 hasan inlet connected by a conduit 42 to the interior of tub 12 and anoutlet connected by a conduit 44 to liquid flow diversion means such asfluidic switch 48. With such a structure, when the motor 34 is rotatingso as to provide agitation, pump 40 draws liquid through conduit 42 fromtub 12 and discharges it through conduit 44 through fluidic switch 48.Operation of this recirculation system will be discussed further herein.

Liquid supply means including valve assembly 54 is adapted to supply hotand cold water to the machine. the valve being connected respectively tohot and cold water sources. such as household faucets, (not shown) by apair of conduits 56 and 58. Valve 54 may be provided with a pair ofsolenoids 60 and 62 such that the energization of solenoid 60 permitspassage of hot water through the valve, and energization of solenoid 62permits passage of cold water through the valve; likewise energizationof both solenoids permits mixing of hot and cold water in the valve andpassage of warm water therefrom through an outlet conduit 66 extendingfrom the valve 54. Outlet conduit 66 communicates with a nozzle 68 whichis positioned to discharge into basket I4.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided acombination filter, additive-dispenser such as the lint-filter,additive-dispenser generally shown by the numeral 70. Filter-dispenser70 has been arranged such that the flow of recirculating water emergingfrom outlet conduit 44 will flow therethrough so as to flush out anadditive or treating agent placed therein by the operator. At the sametime, that flow of water initially coming from tub 12 through inletconduit 42, should be filtered before passing back into the container,and more specifically into basket 14, to remove lint and other foreignmaterials that may have been picked up or that may have been separatedfrom the items of clothing being washed in the machine. Filter-dispenser70 then also performs the function of entrapping this lint or otherforeign material before the recirculation water passes back into basket14.

Referring now to FIG. 2, filter-dispenser 70 is shown as being suitablyattached to outer tub 12 near the top thereof such that the dischargetherefrom passes into basket 14. A receptacle 72 is provided including aplurality of chambers such as first, second and third chambers, denotedas 74, 76 and 78, respectively for receiving an additive or treatingagent such as a detergent which will be introduced into the washingmachine at the appropriate time. As can be readily seen, the severalchambers are substantially rectangular in shape, and formed of threeside walls and a base member, one side wall being left substantiallyopen such that the additive may be more easily flushed therefrom intothe container or basket 14. Each of the chambers 74, 76 and 78 have beenprovided respectively with liquid inlets denoted respectively as 80, 82,and 84. Coupling the liquid inlets and thereby the three chambers intothe liquid recirculation system are a set of three conduits 86, 88 and90 respectively which are connected to fluidic switch 48. Fluidic switch48, conduits 86, 88 and 90 and the recirculation system associated withthe pump 40 constitute water diversion means, the fluidic switch beingoperable by the sequence control timer 28 to cause the recirculatingliquid to flow into the respective chambers at predetermined times inthe operation of the machine for effecting transfer of the additives ortreating agents into the container. Such a liquid flow diversion meansor fluidic switch may be of the type disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,760,612Akers et al, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

In the preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, first chamber 74 wouldhold the pro-wash or soak cycle portion detergent, second chamber 76would hold the wash or second wash detergent. and third chamber 78 wouldhold a rinse aid or agent. Accordingly, as timer 28 proceeds through theoperating cycle, it would cause fiuidic switch 48 to become operable toallow rccirculating water to flow from conduit 44 through to theappropriate chambers as has been predetermined.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, cover means are provided for gaining accessinto the receptacle 72. Cover 92 is hingedly attached to receptacle 72and in the preferred embodiment. cover 92 may be reached through anaperture 94 better seen in FIGv 4 in top portion of appearance cabinet16.

Referring generally to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, filtration means such as lintfilter means denoted generally by the numerals 100 and 102 have beenprovided and arranged in receptacle 72 for removing foreign materialsuch as lint from the flow of recirculating liquid entering thereceptacle through inlets 80 and 82 before the liquid re-enters thebasket 14. A lint filter means has not been provided in third chamber 78since, in the preferred embodiment, this chamber holds the rinse agentand under normal operation of a washing machine, the flow ofrecirculating liquid is switched back by the timer device 28 and fluidicswitch 48 to second chamber 76 a short time after the rinse agent hasbeen dispensed.

Lint filters I00 and 102 include a plurality of generally parallel,spaced-apart pins, such as generally shown at 104, projecting from asubstrate such as base members 106 and 108 respectively. In thepreferred embodiment, pins 104 are arranged vertically so that incomingliquid from inlets and 82 will flow across the base members 106 and 108and likewise through the maze or labyrinth of pins 104 before passingout of the respective chambers 74 and 76 into basket 14. Lint and otherforeign material caught in the flow of recirculating liquid then isentrapped by these pins 104 thereby providing effective filtering forthe recirculating flow of washing machine 10.

Means are also provided for manually cleaning the lint filter means suchas mechanical cleaning means or stripping plates 110 and 112 associatedwith chambers 74 and 76 respectively. Stripping plates 110 and 112 areformed of rigid plates having a plurality of holes therein at leastcorresponding to the pins 104 of lint filters and 102. In the preferredembodiment these holes and pins are in a one to one ratio. there beingone hole providing in the stripping plates and 112 for each of the pins104. Plates I10 and 112 are normally superimposed over pins 104 suchthat they are in close proximityto the substrate or base members 106 and108 from which pins 104 project. The normal operating position forplates 110 and 112 is in direct contact with base members 106 and 108such that recirculating liquid does not flow therebetween, but ratherthe water flows over the top of stripping plates I10 and 112. Strippingplates 110 and 112 are each provided with gripping means such as handles114 and 116. respectively, for allowing manual gripping thereof suchthat the plates 110 and 112 may be removed from their normal position.As the plates are pulled upwardly, foreign material such as lintentrapped upon pins 104 will be loosened therefrom so as to beeffectively stripped, and retained on the plates. whereupon the lint maybe easily removed as by rinsing under a faucet. Plates 110 and 112 arethen again placed in their superimposed positions upon pins 104 and thelint filters 100 and 102 then are ready for another wash cycle. I

It has been found that filter-dispenser 70 may be integrally molded ofone-piece construction of any suitable material, such as polypropylene.As such, liquid inlets 80. 82 and 84 as well as pins 104 and cover 92may be molded as parts of the assembly; further cover 92 may be providedwith a living hinge. Stripping plates 110 and 112 and the handles 114and 116 may likewise be molded of one-piece construction.

It should be noted that pins 104. and their substrates or base members106 and 108 may be formed of a single piece of pliable material such asrubber. the units being formed as inserts for insertion into chambers 74and 76 respectively and further being suitably provided with handles formanual gripping such that manual removal of the assembly of base plateand pins causes the loosening from the pins of foreign materials such aslint trapped thereon which then may easily be plucked off manually orwashed off in a stream of water.

It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodimentsdescribed heretofore are considered to be the present preferred forms ofthis invention. In accordance with the Patent Statutes, changes may bemade in the disclosed apparatus in the manner in which it is usedwithout actually departing from the true spirit and scope of thisinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a washing machine having a container for recciving items to bewashed and means for recirculating liquid therein, a combination filter,additivedispenser comprising:

a receptacle having at least one chamber and arranged for receiving anadditive to be introduced into said container;

liquid diversion means including a conduit communicating the receptaclewith said recirculation means and operable at predetermined times forcausing at least a portion of the recirculating liquid to flow into thereceptacle for effecting transfer of the additive into said container;

filtration means arranged in the receptacle for removing foreignmaterial from the flow of recirculating liquid before said liquidre-enters said container. said filtration means comprising a plurality'of generally parallel, spaced-apart pins projecting from a substratearranged such that incoming recirculating liquid flows thereover; and

mechanical means for manually cleaning the filtration means comprising arigid plate having a plurality of holes therein at least correspondingto the pins of the filtration means, the plate normally superimposedover said pins so as to be in close proximity to said substrate suchthat the incoming liquid flows over the plate. and means for manuallygripping the plate, whereby it is removed from its normal position,foreign material removed by the pins from the flow of recirculatingliquid will be stripped from the pins.

2. In an automatic clothes washing machine having a container forreceiving clothes to be washed, an appearance cabinet including a topwith a cover for gaining access into the container, means forrecirculating liquid in the container, and sequence control means forcontrolling the operation of the machine, a combination lintfilter-additive dispenser comprising:

a receptacle having a plurality of chambers, each chamber including aliquid inlet and at least three side walls and a base member, saidchambers being adapted to receive an additive to be introduced into saidcontainer;

water diversion means including a fluidic switch and a plurality ofconduits associated therewith communicating with the several receptaclechambers, the fluidic switch being operable by said sequence controlmeans to cause recirculating liquid to flow into the respective chambersat predetermined times in the operation of the machine for effectingtransfer of the additves into said container;

lint filter means including a plurality of vertical pins arranged in atleast one of said chambers and secured to the base member thereof forentrapping lint and other foreign material from the flow ofrecirculating liquid before said liquid re-enters said container; and

a stripping plate having a plurality of holes therein at leastcorresponding to the pins of the filter means, the plate having a normalposition in contact with the base member, and further having grippingmeans for removing the plate from its normal position whereupon as theplate is removed, lint and other material entrapped by the pins will bestripped therefrom.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said lint filteradditi've dispenseris adapted for mounting in said washing machine so as to be secured tosaid container at the top portion thereof, and further comprising covermeans for gaining access into said receptacle.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein access to said cover means isthrough an aperture in said appearance cabinet adjacent said accesscover.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said receptacle includes threechambers, two of which are provided with lint filter means.

1. In a washing machine having a container for receiving items to bewashed and means for recirculating liquid therein, a combination filter,additive-dispenser comprising: a receptacle having at least one chamberand arranged for receiving an additive to be introduced into saidcontainer; liquid diversion means including a conduit communicating thereceptacle with said recirculation means and operable at predeterminedtimes for causing at least a portion of the recirculating liquid to flowinto the receptacle for effecting transfer of the additive into saidcontainer; filtration means arranged in the receptacle for removingforeign mAterial from the flow of recirculating liquid before saidliquid re-enters said container, said filtration means comprising aplurality of generally parallel, spaced-apart pins projecting from asubstrate arranged such that incoming recirculating liquid flowsthereover; and mechanical means for manually cleaning the filtrationmeans comprising a rigid plate having a plurality of holes therein atleast corresponding to the pins of the filtration means, the platenormally superimposed over said pins so as to be in close proximity tosaid substrate such that the incoming liquid flows over the plate, andmeans for manually gripping the plate, whereby it is removed from itsnormal position, foreign material removed by the pins from the flow ofrecirculating liquid will be stripped from the pins.
 2. In an automaticclothes washing machine having a container for receiving clothes to bewashed, an appearance cabinet including a top with a cover for gainingaccess into the container, means for recirculating liquid in thecontainer, and sequence control means for controlling the operation ofthe machine, a combination lint filter-additive dispenser comprising: areceptacle having a plurality of chambers, each chamber including aliquid inlet and at least three side walls and a base member, saidchambers being adapted to receive an additive to be introduced into saidcontainer; water diversion means including a fluidic switch and aplurality of conduits associated therewith communicating with theseveral receptacle chambers, the fluidic switch being operable by saidsequence control means to cause recirculating liquid to flow into therespective chambers at predetermined times in the operation of themachine for effecting transfer of the additves into said container; lintfilter means including a plurality of vertical pins arranged in at leastone of said chambers and secured to the base member thereof forentrapping lint and other foreign material from the flow ofrecirculating liquid before said liquid re-enters said container; and astripping plate having a plurality of holes therein at leastcorresponding to the pins of the filter means, the plate having a normalposition in contact with the base member, and further having grippingmeans for removing the plate from its normal position whereupon as theplate is removed, lint and other material entrapped by the pins will bestripped therefrom.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said lintfilter-additive dispenser is adapted for mounting in said washingmachine so as to be secured to said container at the top portionthereof, and further comprising cover means for gaining access into saidreceptacle.
 4. The invention of claim 3 wherein access to said covermeans is through an aperture in said appearance cabinet adjacent saidaccess cover.
 5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said receptacleincludes three chambers, two of which are provided with lint filtermeans.